Vera Anderson's The Dogwalker, The Movie

In 1990 I almost produced a movie written and directed by my boyfriend and business partner Paul Duran. Called THE SHARK, the film fell victim to the failing financial health of Hemdale, and later to some highly questionable independent money guys. But producing films has always been part of my dream, my plan.

So, when I was able to buy the duplex apartment building where I've lived the last twenty years, we realized that with a whole empty apartment upstairs we could shoot a really low budget film right here in our own house. It seemed appropriate: THE DOGWALKER had been inspired by this neighborhood. And so a lifelong dream became reality last summer when one of us said something decisive like, "Okay Sparky, Let's make a movie!"

With no time to keep a formal diary of the crazy making weeks ahead, daily e-mails to my incredibly patient magazine editor, Charles Oppenheim, became the official chronicle of my experiences as a first time film producer.

Walter, Cress, Will, and Tony
Walter Jones, Cress Williams, Will Stewart, and Tony Todd

8/12/97:
Dear Charlie, Well, It looks like we have a deal to make our film. I can't believe it's really happening, it's been my dream for so long ...

10/9/97:
Charlie, Sorry I haven't turned in my Nicole Kidman interview yet, I promise I won't miss another deadline. Please have patience with me, I'm just overwhelmed. I guess I thought that producing a film would mean I'd get to make creative decisions, like "Oh not that couch!" and "Yes, that caterer has the best food." Instead, I'm waking up everyday at 4 a.m. with a knot of anxiety in my throat that I can't possibly do all this and even if I do get everything done, we don't have the money! And respect? Nobody respects the producer, the director is the God Head, the producer is this annoying necessity they all come to for checks. But hey, WE ARE DOING IT, can you believe it? There's no stopping now.

10/20/97: Oh My God, we're doing it, our whole house is filled with the movie...Paul’s office is wardrobe, the back yard is bustling with the grip & electrical guys pulling their equipment, and the caterer making breakfast burritos for the crew, it feels like a real movie, and OH MY GOD did I tell you that the Screen Actors' Guild made me post a huge cash bond so now we only have money for the first week?

10/23/97: Well, barring any unforeseen disasters we have enough cash for Weeks 2 & 3. I feel like a junkie gambler, it's like "what can I sell to get my next fix?"
	10/26/97: Before you congratulate me on having enough money to finish the film, I can only say I must have written that a few disasters ago, I'm back to being pathetic. We ran out of film stock and cash at noon today and still, can you believe it, by the end of the day we miraculously had payroll...


	*- Synopsis and Cast*